CLOSING IN: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima
by Colonel Joseph H. Alexander U.S. Marine Corps (Ret)
Suribachi (continued)
The morning of the third day, D+2, seemed to promise
more of the same frustrations. Marines shivered in the cold wind and
rain; Admiral Hill twice had to close the beach due to high surf and
dangerous undertows. But during one of the grace periods, the 3d
Division's 21st Marines managed to come ashore, all of it extremely glad
to be free of the heaving small boats. General Schmidt assigned it to
the 4th Marine Division at first.
The 28th Marines resumed its assault on the base of
Suribachi, more slow, bloody fighting, seemingly boulder by boulder. On
the west coast, the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, made the most of field
artillery and nava
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